Taps

It all began in 1862, during the civil war, when a Union Army captain, Robert Ellicombe, with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of this narrow strip of land. During the night, Capt. Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded on the field. The captain decided to risk his life and bring back the stricken man for medical attention.

When the caption finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The captain lit a lantern and went numb with shock. It was his own son! The young man had been studying music in the South when the war broke out, and without telling his father, had enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, the heartbroken father asked permission of his supervisors to give his son a full military burial. The captain's request was partially granted. He asked if he could have a group of army band members play a dirge for his son at the funeral. His request was refused since the soldier was a Confederate. Out of respect for the captain, they could loan him one musician. He chose the bugler. The captain asked him to play a series of musical notes found in the dead youth's uniform.

That music was the haunting bugle melody we now know as "Taps" - Abigail Van Buren

Sounding Taps

The following shipmates passed away.

With sincerest Sympathy from all the members of the Gilmore Association.

• • yyyy-1999

    • Donald Daniel

    • Lennard Linz

    • Robert Nesselroad

    • Fred Erickson

    • Kenneth Keib

    • Alexander Lennox

    • Donald Yancer

    • Gil Markinson

    • Albert Birch Sr

    • James Firlds

    • Ron Schrieber

    • Jim Medeeros

    • Robert Aldrich

    • Jerry Kalbaugh

    • Charles Trauth

    • George Anson

    • John Grant

    • Ben Jones

    • Edgar Juedes

    • Forrest Tower

    • Roger O. Stygles Jr.

      • August 4, 2000 - Hyde Park, Vermont - Assigned to the Gilmore while in Key West, 1949-1952

    • Michael Houghton

      • Just a note to let you know, with deep sadness that my friend and shipmate Michael Houghton DP2 was killed by a drunk driver in Florida I believe in 2000. He served aboard the Gilmore with me in 1976-77 in the ADP S-6 Div.. He is missed by all who knew him. Thank You. Sincerely: Ernest Colelli (DP3) AS-16, 1976-1977

    • Henry L. Morgan

      • June 6, 2002 - Served on the Gilmore, 1959 - 1960

    • An old Gilmore shipmate of mine, passed away in Nov. 2002 at his home in Alobany Kentucky. He was an EM and served on board from early 1954 to 1957. Regards: Bob Schmidt

  • 2000-2001

    • Bushnell .Wayne

    • Chimes ,Paul

    • Feltz .Elmer

    • Gray ,J. D.

    • Hainley, Donald

    • Hermenau ,Chuck

    • Kutin ,Stanley

    • Lafferty ,David

    • McGowan, Robert

    • New ,Larry

    • Owens, Don

    • Rudolph ,Ray

    • Seaward, Hobart

    • Shenk, Donald

    • Shields, Charles

  • Wickstrom, J. A.

  • Wilson, Jame

  • Dennis Frost

2002-2003

• • Dolan, John

  • Draear, Ivan

  • Johnson, Richard

  • Kopacka, William

  • MacLagan, William

  • Miller, John

  • Pattison, Paul

  • Rack, Louis

  • Randolph, Ray

  • Tyner, Keith

  • VanTrees, Bruce

  • Yates, Robert

• Young, Evert

2004

• • Cain, George

  • Colglazier, Jim

  • Goodman, Earl

  • Kervin, Gerald

  • Vivenzio, Fred

• Earl David Payne, MM1

• Retired of the Gilmore in August 1970 before it went to KEY WEST.

  • Papa lost his 2 year battle with cancer 02/09/2004, at home with his wife of 52 years by his side. I hope to attend the reunion in OCT. But with moms health, she may not be with us, I really hope I am able but if not, maybe some of his shipmates will remember him.

  • Papa went on to raise two sons his oldest robert about 16yo when he retired myself 2yo when he retired and a daughter born in 72.

  • Us boys both jioned the military - Robert a MARINE, David a US NAVY CORPSMAN stationed with FIRST DIV, USMC.

2005

• • Frank Flook

  • Robert J. Aponte

  • Harold Anthony

  • Gerald Fuller

  • Benjamin McClain

• Arthur Rodrigues

2006-2007

• Edward Anderson

• Charles Brooks

• Bernard Frazier

• Gary Humphrey

• Edward Keeney

• Joseph Smith

• Vertus Strutzenburg

• Atherton, Darrel

• Cook, Walter

• Coulter, Art

• Hunt, Elmer

• King, Robert

• Kinney, Michael

• Lewis, Alvis

• Marcum, Olvis

• May, Buddy

• Miller, Fredrick

• Schmidt, Robert

• Twedt, Bob

• Vidrine, Gil

2007

• Elmer G. Hunt

• I'm Sad to inform all that my father, Elmer G. Hunt, (Lt/SC/USN/Ret) passed away 02/28/07. I am trying to find as many of his old Duty stations and crews as I can to let his friends and shipmates know. He was on the Gilmore here in Charleston, retired in 67 and I believe he had attended the reunion.

  • Brecks Restaurant in Summerville SC still displays the plaque Dad presented them from the Gilmore in the late 60's.

  • He was a wonderful Father and an excellent Role Model and it would be a Great Honor if you would add him to the "Taps" page.

  • Fair Winds

  • Jim Hunt, Summerville SC

• Buige, Edward

• Chambers, William

• Henck, Earl

• Letsch, Dave

• Lynch, Lester

• James R. {Max} Miner

• Noble, James

• Rawson, Art

2013

• • Jack R. Weedn

It would be an honor if you could ad the name of my father, Jack R. Weedn to your taps page. Dad was a quartermaster and among the H.W. Gilmore's ships company starting in August of 1944. He was transferred on and off of the Howard W. Gilmore and both the SharkII and the Escolar where he lost many sub school friends when they were both lost at sea in battle. He passed away February 27, 2013 he was 87. He was a great father and inspiration to his family and friends. He loved his time as submariner. He loved life and passed away on his own terms. The greatest generation for sure.

Thanks

Rick

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2008-2009